New Delhi, 1 June 2022: Indian Journalists Union Secretary General Sabina Inderjit was elected founder President of Federation of Asia Pacific Journalists (FAPaJ), a new regional organisation of the International Federation of Journalists, in Oman at its inaugural Congress held on 31st May. She was also re-elected as IFJ Vice President for the third consecutive term.
The FAPaJ Congress, which preceded the 31st Congress of IFJ was organised by the Oman Journalists Association and attended by delegates from journalists unions across Asia Pacific region. Sabina was elected with a thumping majority defeating Leigh Tonkin of MEEA with 54 votes out of 71. Salim Al Jahwari of OJA, was elected Vice President unopposed. Others elected unopposed to the Executive Council were: Mohamed El Hamadi (JA-UAE, Western Asia), Jonathan De Santos (NUJP/Philippines, Eastern Asia), Leigh Tonkin (MEAA, Pacific Region), Badri Sigdel (NPU/Nepal, Southern Asia), and Ali Youssef (SJL/Lebanon) and Mousa Abdul Nour (SJA/Syria) as members, and Chin Sing Chew (NUJM/Malaysia), reserve member. The Central Asian region went unrepresented.
In a statement, IJU President and former member, Press Council of India Geetartha Pathak said IJU Secretary General being elected President of FAPaJ and re-elected IFJ Vice President is an endorsement of the work being done by the Union to defend freedom of the press and journalists rights. On her election, Sabina said she was both relived and elated as the long struggle of over a decade has finally culminated in the formation of FAPaJ, the only regional federation missing in the IFJ. There are big challenges ahead for journalists and media workers in this diverse and important region and that all out efforts would be made to ensure FAPaJ develops into a strong and vibrant regional body of the IFJ.
Two from Indian Journalists Union, one each from Palestine Journalists Syndicate, Lebanese Syndicate of Journalists and Omani Journalists Association, were moved and passed (attach). Resolutions on Hong Kong’s critical situation, denial of PFUJ General Secretary Rana Muhammad Azeem to leave Pakistan by the authorities to attend the FAPaJ and IFJ Congress among others were addressed.
The FAPaJ Congress adopted the Constitution, Working Programme and motions on growing threats and assaults on journalists and media freedom violations, with special mention on Syria, Palestine, India, Lebanon and need to monitor the attacks. The Congress also adopted other resolutions dealing with Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the clampdown on media in Hong Kong and Myanmar.
